Synthetic tennis court inaugurated in Udupi

The state government is deliberating on several measures that will encourage the budding sports talent in state, Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports Rahim Khan said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the synthetic tennis court, built at a cost of Rs 3.75 crore and a first-of-its-kind in the district, at Ajjarkadu Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium here, on Monday.

The minister said there were many sports talents in state.

“Many a time they are not nurtured and their talents remain hidden. Hence, the state government will lend all sorts of support to nurture and encourage the sportspersons.”

He assured that all required infrastructural facilities will be provided to the sportspersons.

The minister said that the sports aspirants should write letters to the sports department mentioning their requirements and demands and measures would be taken immediately.

The budding sports talents will be trained by the coaches and the required sports materials will provided to the players, he said.

He said that Udupi district houses better sports facilities when compared to other districts in state.

District In-charge minister Jayamala, who played tennis for some time on the occasion, appealed to the sports minister to ensure infrastructural facilities required by the sportspersons in the district so that they can represent the country at international level.

She also demanded a cricket stadium to be constructed in the district. The Minister instructed the deputy commissioner to identify the land for the cricket stadium.

MLA Raghupathi Bhat urged the players to make use of the newly inaugurated synthetic tennis stadium. Bhat lamented that although there were many sports talents in the district they were not known to outside world owing to the lack of facilities.

The renovated works at indoor gymnasium facilities, air-conditioned indoor gym centre, women sports hostel and disabled friendly toilet were inaugurated on the occasion. The sports minister announced Rs five lakh cash prize each to tennis players Sahana and Sachin from Udupi who represented the state at national level.